Lecture room: Árnagarður – 422. Click for a map.
Working institution
Associate Professor -Immaculata University, Philadelphia, USA Nettverkskonsulent-Hagen Behandlingsenhet, Sykehuset Innlandet – Veldre, Norway
Abstract
A qualitative study of family therapists using feedback informed practices was completed at a treatment center within the Sykehuset Innlandet hospital system in Veldre, Norway revealing seven important themes that may prove useful in understanding how true client collaboration can produce better outcomes with clients in family therapy. Transcultural applications of these themes are currently being tested both in Norway and outside of Philadelphia, USA to discover how family therapists can use these results to improve their effectiveness as clinicians.
This presentation includes the results of the Scandinavian study at a treatment center utilizing feedback-informed, client collaborative practices in Norway as well as the preliminary findings of the application of this research in the United States that is currently being conducted at a family therapy practice outside of Philadelphia. Participants of this workshop will be given specific tools to use in family therapy and offered examples of how these tools can help improve the effectiveness of their clinical work with families. Transcultural implications will be discussed as well as what elements are necessary for clinicians to implement true client collaboration into practice. Two primary themes to be highlighted are true client collaboration and counselor positional stance in family therapy. Five sub-themes to be explored in the presentation include true acknowledgment of the client within the family system, prestige-free attitude toward the clients, trusting the clients, flexibility in treatment, and willingness to negotiate therapy with clients in family systems. Opportunities for discussion will include how this applies to counselors-in-training, practicing clinicians, and clinical supervisors training transcultural family therapy students.